No end in sight for transfer windows on the men’s tour
As soon as the Brussels P2 final is played, the pairs market is already picking up speed. And theAsuncion Premier Padel P2 2026, scheduled from May 4 to 10, is once again serving as a full-scale laboratory. A number of players decided to change partners in the days leading up to their departure for Paraguay, giving the men’s draw a significantly different reading from that of Brussels.
The phenomenon is nothing new, but it has been accelerating since the start of the season. After the spring break-ups involving Sanyo Gutiérrez, the “Javis” or Maxi Arce and Pablo Lijó, it’s now the belly of the ranking that’s moving the most. For the players concerned, the stakes are clear: find a better tactics balance before the next round of matches, starting with Buenos Aires P1. For the spectator, this means a table that’s harder to read, with duos discovering their automatisms live.
New pairs to watch in Paraguay
A number of associations will be enjoying their first week of competition in Asunción. Here are some of the highlights on the men’s side:
- Teo Zapata / Javi Barahona: Enrique Goenaga’s former partner finds a left-hander to structure the left side. A pair reminiscent of past P1 surprise packages.
- Enrique Goenaga / Juanlu Esbri: Failing to count on Javi Rico, absent from the Paraguayan trip, Goenaga lines up with Esbri in a duo that will have to find its tempo very quickly.
- “Pincho” Fernández / Javi Martínez: Fernández closes his chapter with Barahona and radically changes his partner profile. An interesting technical challenge to watch from the very first rounds.
- José Jiménez / Iván Ramírez: a promising duo, eagerly awaited in the main draw. Two players who need matches at the highest level to confirm their potential.
Added to this are adjustments to pairs already in place and returns from injury, which complete the reshaping of the opening rounds. For exact details of the big match-ups, it’s best to consult the official FIP sheet for Asuncion P2 2026, which is updated as the draw is finalized.
Why these changes are so important in P2
On a P2, these adjustments are never anecdotal. The men’s draw has been increased to 28 pairs in 2026, with 22 direct entries, 4 pairs from qualifying draws and 2 wild cards. In concrete terms, this means fewer “warm-up” matches for the seeds and more close duels from the first round. A new pairing that holds its own can therefore upset a seed right from the start, and change the way the draw is read for the rest of the week.
This density is also what prompts so many players to reorganize during the season. On the belly of the ranking, the slightest series of victories is enough to climb, but it is rarely built over the long term with a partner who is not 100% suitable. Many therefore prefer to try a new partnership as soon as a window of opportunity opens up, rather than let a P2 or P1 go by without a clear solution. In Asunción, several pairs are testing this very logic: they don’t arrive as favorites, but with a precise plan for the weeks ahead.
The best ways to keep up to date are the same as always: use the FIP page for tables and timetables, the Premier Padel Where to watch page for local broadcasts, and the official Premier Padel and Red Bull TV channels for televised matches. It’s also a good opportunity to see how the new pairs are faring against the most in-form pairs of the moment, after a particularly busy end to April on the tour.
To remember:
- The men’s transfer window is back in full swing ahead of the Asuncion P2 2026, scheduled from May 4 to 10.
- Several new pairs start in Paraguay: Zapata / Barahona, Goenaga / Esbri, Fernández / Martínez, Jiménez / Ramírez.
- The 28-pair format accentuates the impact of these changes in the early rounds.
- Premier Padel’s FIP page and Where to watch page remain the best reference points for following the week.
